Switch lock control and indication



Feb. 7, 1956 w. H. CLAUS SWITCH LOCK CONTROL AND INDICATION Filed June15, 1947 INVENTOIL Patented Feb. 7, 1950 SWITCH LOCK CONTROL ANDINDICATION William H. iClaus, Downers Grove, Ill., assignor'to The UnionSwitch and Signal Company, Swissvale, .-Pa.,- a corporation ofPennsylvania Application June-13, 1947, Serial No. 754,337

. Claims. 1

My invention relates to switch lock control and indication, andparticularly to remote manual control of a switch lock and take-sidingindicator for a railway trackswitch, and to control of indication meansat a remote-point according to the position and the locked or unlockedcondition of the switch.

In order to prevent operation of a railway track switch away'from itsnormal positionexcept under the direction of a dispatcher or leverman,it is common practice to provide an auxiliary lock leverat the switchfor-locking the switch in its normal position, and to provide anelectric lock which, if deenergized while the lock lever is in itsnormal position, locks athezlever in that position.- E-nergization ofthe electric lock for releasing'the lock .lever is effected by adispatcher or lever-man. A trainmancan then unlock the switch by movingthe auxiliary lock lever to its reverse position, after-which he canmove the switch to "its reverse position.

One feature of my invention is :the provision of a novel andimprovedarrangement for controlling an electric switch lock and atake-siding indicator for a switch, and for indicating to the dispatcheror leverman, after hehas released the electric lock, that the lock leveris still in the normal position, and also for indicating when the locklever is moved away from the normal position, and again when the locklever and the switch have been restored to their-normal positions.

A further feature of my invention is the provision of :means foreffecting all these controls and indications over only two lineconductors.

I shall describe'one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and shal1then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanyingzdrawing is a diagrammatic view showing one form ofapparatus embodying my invention, in which an electric lock for lookinga railway track switch in its normal position, and a take-sidingindicator for directing traffic movements over the switch in its reverseposition, are controlled from a remote point over a given pair of linevconductors, and in which three indications are controlled by :the locklever and the switch over the same pair of line conductors.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the drawing.

In the drawi g; contacts operated by the various relays or other--devices are identified by numbers, such :numbers having distinguishingwhen the contacts are shown apart from the relay by which they areoperated. The prefix for each of these contact numbers comprises thereference character for the respective relay: by which the contact isoperated. For example, contact LR'20 shown adjacent the symbol forrelayNS is identified by the number 20 separated by a dash from theprefix LR which is the reference character for relay LR by which thiscontact is operated.

Referring further .to the drawing, rails 4 and to of a stretch ofrailway track aredivided by insulated joints 5 to form 'a section 3Twhich includes a switch 3. Section 3T is providedwith a track circuitincluding a suitable source of current, such as .a battery 6, connectedacross the rails adjacent one end of the section, and a track relay,designated by the reference character 3TH, connected .across the railsadjacent the opposite end of the section. Adjacent the left-hand end ofsection 3T, as shown in the drawing,pa track relay, designated by the:reference character ITR, of a track circuit for another section isshown.

7 A signal designated by the referencecharacter IS governs trafilcmovements toward the right, asshown in the drawing, which I shallassumeis the eastbound direction, over section 3T; A second signal designatedby the reference character 2S governs trafiic movements in the oppositeor westbound direction over section 3T. Signals :IS and 2S may be of anysuitable design, suchfor example as the well-known searchlight ype.

' A take-sidingindicator designated by the reference character-SK, shownas a lamp, is normally dark but, upon becoming lighted, directstrafiic-movementsfrom section 3T over switch 3 in the reverse positionto a siding Z.

Switch 3 maybe operated between its extreme positions by any suitablemechanism not shown in the drawing. A lock'bar l is rigidly securedtoswitch ,3 for engagement with a dog "8 by means :of which switch 3 islocked in its normal position in which it is shown in the drawing. Dog'8 is actuated by a manuallynoperable lock lever designated by thereference character 2V having a normal position-n and a reverse position1'.

Lever 2V1is locked in ,itsnormal position by an electric lock Lcomprising a control winding d and an armature having a dog -9forengagement with a notch [0 of a locking segment i which is rigidlyconnected with lever 2V, Lever 2Voperprefixes from which they areseparated by a dash ates a contact H which is closed when lever 2V is inthe normal position and becomes opened when lever 2V is moved away fromthe normal position.

A contact I2 is operated in conjunction with switch 3 and is closed whenswitch 3 is in its normal position but becomes opened when switch 3 ismoved away from its normal position.

A switch repeater relay, designated by the reference character 3P, iscontrolled by contacts II and I2 of lever 2V and switch 3, respectively.

Energization of lock winding d is controlled by a control relay LR.Relay LR and a code following indication relay CF are connected inseries with each other and with the back point of a contact 21 of a codedelivery relay CD in a line control circuit. This line control circuitis controlled by a contact 25 of a control lever IV which has a normalposition 12. and a reverse position 1'. Contact 25 and another contactII .also operated by lever IV are open when lever IV is in its normalposition n, but become closed when lever IV is moved to its reverseposition 1.

A take-siding indicator control relay SKR is also controlled by relay LRand by an indication stick relay NS. Take-siding indicator SK is con-Indication stick relay N5 is controlled by relays 3P, 3TB, 3TP and LR.

A code transmitting device designated by the reference character CTcloses its front contact ary winding 1 is rectified by contact 41 ofrelay CF for energizing relay 3PN. Relay 3PN is therefore energizedwhenever relay CF is being operated at either the 75 or the 180frequency. Resonant unit I8IlDU, however, permits relay 3PR to respondto only current of the 180 frequency.

When relay CD is deenergized-while contact of lever IV is closed, sothat contact 21 of relay CD is constantly closed at its back point,relay CF is constantly energized, and therefore constant direct currentis supplied to primary windat a frequency of times per minute, and iscontrolled by relays LR, NS and 3P. A second code transmitting devicedesignated by the reference character ICT, which closes its frontcontact at a frequency of 180 times per minute, is controlled by thesame relays which control device 15CT.

A code delivery relay CD is controlled by code 7 transmitting devices15CT and I8DCT, and by the three relays which control the codetransmitting devices.

Only a portion of the circuit by which signals.

IS is controlled to display the proceed indication is shown, and thisportion is controlled by relays 3TB, 3P and LR. Likewise, only a portionof the circuit which controls signal 2S to display the proceedindication is shown, and this portion includescontacts of relays 3F and3TR.

When energization of relay CD is being controlled by coding device 15CT,contact 21 of relay CD closes at its front point and opens at its backpoint at a frequency of 75 times per minutes:

When energization of relay CD is controlled by coding device IBBCT,contact 21 of relay CD closes at its front point and opens at its backpoint at a frequency of 180 times per minute. Each time that contact 21becomes closed at its front point,

it completes a closed circuit path including the windings of relay LR,which prevents relay LR from releasing its front contacts during periodswhen the line control circuit is open at the back energized at afrequency of 75 or 180 times per minute, its contact 42 repeatedlyreverses the direct current applied to a primary winding m oftransformer M so that alternating current is produced in secondarywinding 11/ of this transformer.

The alternating current thus produced in second- Ill ing m oftransformer M. Relays 3PN and 3PR are therefore deenergized.

Relays CF, 3PN and 3PR control indication means shown as indicationlamps G, W and A.

Lever IV, relay CF, the decoding apparatus, and the indication lamps maybe located at any suitable remote point, such as a dispatchers ofiice oran interlocking tower.

Having described, in general, the arrangement of the various parts ofapparatus embodying my invention, I shall now describe the circuits andoperation in detail.

As shown in the drawing, all parts of the apparatus are in the normalcondition, that is, switch 3 is in its normal position; signals IS and2S are displaying a proceed indication; take-siding indicator SK isunlighted; the track sections shown in the drawing are unoccupied, sothat track relays ITR and 3TR are energized; levers IV and 2V are intheir normal or 12 position; relays 3P, 3TP and NS are energized; lockwinding d, relays CF, LR, SKR, CD, 3PN, 3PR, coding devices T and I80CT,transformer M, and indication lamps G, W and A are deenergized.

The portion of the control circuit shown in the drawing for signal ISpasses through contact I3 of relay STR, contact Id of relay 3P, contactI5 of relay LR, and the mechanism of signal IS to terminal N of asuitable source of current. The portion of the control circuit shown forsignal 2S includes contact I6 of relay 3P and contact I1 of relay 3TB.

The circuit by which relay SP is energized passes from terminal B of asuitable source of current, not shown in the drawing, through contact Iiof lever 2V closed in the 11 position, contact I2 of switch 3, andwinding of relay 3P to terminal N of the same source of current.

Relay 3TP is energized by a circuit passing from terminal B, throughcontact I8 of relay STR, and the winding of relay 3TP to terminal N.

Both a pick-up and a stick circuit are closed for energizing relay NS,the pick-up circuit passing from terminal B, through the front point ofcontact 3P--I9, contact LR28, winding of relay NS, and the front pointof contact 3P24 to terminal N. The stick circuit which is closed forthis relay passes from terminal B, through the front point of contact3P-I 9, front point of contact 2| of relay 3TR, front point of contact22 of relay 3TP, contact 23 of relay NS, winding of relay NS, and thefront point of contact 3P-24 to terminal N.

I shall assume that, with apparatus arranged as shown in the drawing, itis decided that an eastbound train is to move from section 3T overswitch 3 in its reverse position to siding Z. A dispatcher or levermanwill therefore move lever IV to its 1" position, thereby closing contact25 in a line control circuit which passes from terminal B, throughcontact 25 of lever IV, winding of relay CF, line conductor 26, backpoint of contact 21 of relay CD, and the winding of relay LR to terminalN.

Relay LR, upon becoming energized by this circuit, opens its contact.15, thereby causing signal IS to indicate stop. Relay LR, upon closingits front contacts, completes a circuit for energizing lock winding 11,this circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 28 of relay LR,and winding d, to terminal N. At the same time, relay SKR becomesenergized by a circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 28 .ofrelay LR, contact 29 of relay NS, and the winding of relay SKR toterminal N.

The pick-up circuit traced for relayNS is now opened at contact LR--2ll,but relay NS remains energized by its stick circuitpreviously traced.Contact 36 of relay NS therefore remains open, and so relay CD remainsdeenergized.

Relay CF is therefore constantly energized, and lamp W is lighted by acircuit passing from terminal EB of a suitable source of lightingcurrent, back point of contact 3c of relay SP-N, contact 3| of relay CF,and lamp W to terminal EN of the same source of lighting current.

When a train arrives on section IT, causing relay lTR to becomedeenergized, take-siding indicator lamp SK becomes lighted by a circuitpassing from terminal EB, through contact 33 of relay SKR, contact 34 ofrelay I'IR, and indicater SK to terminal EN.

I shall assume further that a trainman goes ahead, and reverses lever 2Vbefore the eastbound train enters section 3T. Contact I! of lever 2V isthereby opened and-causes relay 3P to become deenergized. When relay 3?becomes deenergized, its contact E6, in the circuit for signal 25,becomes opened.

Contacts SP-lll and 3P-24 momentarily open the stick circuit for relayNS and then reverse the polarity of current applied to this stickcircuit causing contact 23 of relay NS to open. With the pick-up circuitfor relay NS already open, and the stick circuit thus opened, relay NSremains deenergized.

A circuit is therefore completed for energizing code transmitting deviceI8BCT, this circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 35 of relay13., contact 35 of relay NS, back point of contact 37 of relay 31?, andthe winding of code transmitting device l8flCT to terminal N. Codedelivery relay CD is therefore now periodically energized, at thefrequencyof 186 times per minute, by a circuit passing from terminal B,through contact 35 of relay LR, contact '36'of relay NS, back point ofcontact 38 of relay 3P, contact 40 of code transmitter lBllCT, and theWinding of relay CD to terminal N.

As previously pointed out, relay LR retains'its front contacts closedwhile contact 2'1 of relay CD is repeatedly closing alternately at itsfront and back points. The contacts of relay CF, however, open at theirfront points and close at their back points each time'that contact 21opens at its back point.

With contact 42 of relay CF being repeatedly closed alternately at itsfront and back points, direct current is repeatedly supplied alternatelyin opposite directions .to primarywinding m of transformer M.Alternating current is therefore generated in secondary winding y oftransformer M, and therefore relay SPN is energized by current which isrectified through the front and back points of contact ll of relay CF ina well-known manner. Since relay CF is being operated at a frequency of180 times per minute, relay tPR is also energized from terminals M andtliiof transformer M through resonant unit IBUDU.

With relays BPN and 3PR-bot-h energized, lamp 6 A is lighted by.;acircuit passing from terminal EB, through the front point of contact 30.of relay 3PN;'fr.ont point .of contact 32 of relay .3PR, and lamp A toterminal. EN.

I shall now assume that all parts of the apparatus are again in thenormal. condition as previously described, and that a leverman thenreverses lever IV and another train enters section lT, causing lockwinding 11 and relay SKR to be energized as before, and take-sidingindicator SK to be lighted, as previously. described. As previouslypointed out. relay NS is now energized by its stick circuit after relayLR has become energized. If, now, the train enters section3T before atrainman reverses lever 2V, relay 3TB, will become .deenergized, andhence its contact 2| will open the stick circuit'forrelay NS.

When relay 3TB becomes .deenergized, its contact 11, "in the circuit forsignal 2S, becomes opened. I

Relay 3TP also will now become deenergized because contact 1'8 of relay23TH is open, but relay 31? is of the slow releasing. type, andtherefore its contact 22 does not at once open at the front point andclose at the back point. During the interval between the closing ofcontact 2| of relay 3TB, at its back point and the closing of contact 22of relay 3TP at its back point, relay NS is deenergized .and its contact23 opens; Since contact LR,2D 'in the pick-up circuit of relay NS isopen, relay NS willthen remain deenergized.

Since the trainman has not .yet reversed lever 2V, relay 3P is stillenergized, and therefore a circuit is now. completed for energizing codetransmitting device 150T, this circuit passing from terminal 13, throughcontact 35 of relay'LR, contact 36 of relay NS, front point'of contact31 of relay 3?, and code transmitting device 156T to terminal N. RelayCD is therefore now periodically energized at a frequency of '75 timesper minute by a circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 35 ofrelay LR, contact 36 of relay NS, front point-of contact 38 of'relay 3P,contact 39'of code transmitter 156T, and the winding of relay CD toterminal N.

With relay CF now energized periodically at a frequency of times perminute, relay 3PN is energized as previously described, but relay 3BRwill not become energized because of the resonant unit i8llDU,whichprevents response ofrelay 3BR. to any but the :frequency of 1.80cycles per minute.

Lamp G'is therefore now lighted by a circuit passing from terminal EB,through the front point of contact .30 of relay SEN, back point ofcontact 32 of relay .3PR, and lamp G to terminal EN.

If, now, a trainman reverses lever 2V, relay 3P will becomedeenergizedas previously described, causing code transmitter lBflCT tobecome energized and cause delivery relay CD to become energized at thefrequency of.180 times per minute. Relays 3PN and .SPR will thereforebothbe energized, causing lamp A to be lightedas previously described.

With lever 2V reversed; dog 8 will be withdrawn from lock bar I, andtherefore the trainman can now reverse switch 3 for the train to'move'from section 3T to track Z. Contact ll! of switch 3 will thereforebe opened in the circuit for relay 3P which is, however,.alreadyndeenergized on account of contact ll cf leverZV being open.

When a trainman returns switch Bto its normal position, relay 3P willstill beldeenergizeduntil lever 2V is returned-to itsnormalpositiomtherleby closing contact ll. Code transmitter [800T willtherefore remain energized and lamp A will continue lighted until bothswitch 3 and lever 2V have been returned to their normal positions.

When lever 2V and switch 3 have both been returned to their normalpositions, relay 3P will become energized by its circuit previouslytraced. Code transmitter TSCT will then be energized by its circuitpreviously traced, causing lamp G to again become lighted as previouslydescribed.

The dispatcher or leverman will then return lever IV to the normalposition, thereby deenergizing relays CF and LR, lock winding (1, relaySKR, and relay CD. With relay LR now deenergized and with relay 3P againenergized, relay NS will become energized by its pick-up circuitpreviously traced, and will then close its stick circult also previouslytraced. With relay CF deenergized, decoding relays ilPN and 31 R will bedeenergized, and lamps G, W and A will be dark. Although I have hereinshown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention,it is understood that various changes and modifications may be madetherein within the scope of the appended claims without departing fromthe spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1, In a control and indication arrangement for an electric lock for alock lever which looks a railway track switch in its; normal positionand with which a take-siding indicator is associated which directstraffic movements over said switch in the reverse position, thecombination comprising, a manually operable control lever having anormal and a reverse position, a code following relay, a control relay,a code delivery relay, a line control circuit including a reversecontact of said lever and the control element of said code followingrelay and also a back contact of said code delivery relay and thewinding of said control relay all in series with each other andenergized by a suitable source of current, means controlled by saidcontrol relay in its energized condition for energizing said electriclock for releasing said lock lever and for preparing a circuit forenergizing said take-siding indicator, means controlled by said controlrelay and by said lock lever for energizing said code delivery relay bycoded current, and means controlled by said code following relay whensaid line control circuit becomes closed for displaying a givenindication until said lock lever is moved away from its normal positionand for then displaying a second indication while said lock lever isreversed and for displaying a third indication when said switch is againlocked by said lock lever in its normal position.

2. In a control and indication arrangement for an electric lock for alock. lever which locks a railway track switch in its normal positionand with which a take-siding indicator is associated which directstrafiic movements over said switch in the reverse position, thecombination comprising, a manually operable device, a code followingrelay, a control relay, a line control circuit controllable by saidmanually operable device for energizing said control relay in serieswith said code following relay, means controlled by said control relayin its energized condition for energizing said electric lock forreleasing said lock lever and for closing a contact in a control circuitfor said take-siding indicator, means controlled by said control relayin the energized condition and by said lock lever upon being moved awayfrom its normal position for periodically interrupting said line controlcircuit at a given frequency, means controlled by said control relay inthe energized condition and by said switch and said lock lever uponbeing returned to their normal positions for periodically interruptingsaid line control circuit at a given different frequency, and indicationmeans controlled by said code following relay.

3. In a control and indication arrangement for an electric lock for alock lever which looks a railway track switch in its normal position andwith which a take-siding indicator is associated which directs trafficmovements over said switch in the reverse position, the combinationcomprising, a code following relay, a control relay, a manuallycontrollable line circuit for energizing said code following relay andsaid control relay in series, means controlled by said control relay inits energized condition for energizing said electric lock and forclosing a contact in a control circuit for said take-siding indicator,means controlled by said control relay in the energized condition and bysaid lock lever for periodically interrupting said line circuit at agiven frequency when said lock lever is moved away from its normalposition and for periodically interrupting said line circuit at a givendifferent frequency when said lock lever is returned to its normalposition, and indication means controlled by said code following relay.

4. In a control and indication arrangement for an electric lock for alock lever which in its normal position looks a railway track switch inits normal position, the combination comprising, manually controllablemeans for energizing said electric lock for releasing said lock lever,and indication means controlled by said manually controllable means fordisplaying a given indication while said lock lever remains in itsnormal position after said electric lock becomes energized and for thendisplaying a second indication when said lock lever is moved away fromits normal position and also for displaying a third indication by anaspect which is different from the aspect of said indication means fordisplaying either said first or said second indication when said locklever is returned to its normal position.

5. In a control and indication arrangement for an electric lock for alock lever which in its normal position looks a railway track switch inits normal position, the combination comprising, a control relay, anindication relay, manually controllable means for at times constantlyenergizing said control and indication relays in series, a circuitcontrolled by a front contact of said control relay for energizing saidelectric lock for releasing said lock lever, means controlled by saidlock lever upon then being moved away from its normal position forperiodically deenergizing said indication relay but preventing saidcontrol relay from releasing its front contacts, means controlled bysaid lock lever upon being returned to its normal position for againperiodically deenergizing said indication relay, and indication meanscontrolled by said indication relay.

6. In a control and indication arrangement for an electric lock for alock lever which in its normal position looks a railway track switch inits normal position, the combination comprising, a control relay, anindication relay, manually controllable means for at times energizingsaid control relay for releasing said electric look, a lever repeaterrelay controlled by a normal contact of said lock lever, a coding devicecontrolled by a front contact of said control relay and by a backcontact of said lever repeater relay, a second coding device controlledby a front contact of said control relay and by a front contact of saidlever repeater relay, means controlled by said first and second codingdevices for controlling said indication relay, and indication meanscontrolled by said indication relay.

7. In a control and indication arrangement for an electric lock for alock lever which in its normal position looks a railway track switch inits normal position, the combination comprising a control relay forcontrolling said electric look, a code following relay, a manuallycontrollable contact, a coding contact, a line control circuit includingsaid control and indication relays and said coding contact and also saidmanually controllable contact all in series with each other andenergized by a suitable source of current, a lever repeater relay, acontrol circuit for said lever repeater relay including a normal contactof said lever, a stick relay, a pick-up and a stick circuit for saidstick relay each controlled by polechanging contacts of said leverrepeater relay and said pick-up circuit also controlled by a backcontact of said control relay, means controlled by a front contact ofsaid control relay and by a back contact of said stick relay and byfront and back contacts of said lever repeater relay for controllingsaid coding contact, and indication means controlled by said indicationrelay.

8. In a control and indication arrangement for an electric lock for alock lever which in its normal position looks a railway track switch inits normal position, the combination comprising, a control relay forcontrolling said electric look, a code following indication relay, amanually controllable contact, a coding contact, a line control circuitincluding said control and indication relays and said coding contact andalso said manually controllable contact all in series with each otherand energized by a suitable source of current, a lever repeater relay, acontrol circuit for said lever repeater relay including a normal contactof said lever, a track circuit for a section of track in which saidswitch is located including a source of current and a track relay, atrack repeater relay controlled by a front contact of said track relay,a stick relay, a pick-up and a stick circuit for said stick relay eachcontrolled by pole-changing contacts of said lever repeater relay andsaid pick-up circuit also controlled by a back contact of said controlrelay and said stick circuit also controlled by a front contact of saidtrack relay in series with a front contact of said track repeater relaytogether with a branch path around these front contacts including backcontacts of the same two relays, means controlled by said control relayand by said lever repeater relay and also by said stick relay forcontrolling said coding contact, and indication means controlled by saidindication relay.

9. In a control and indication arrangement for an electric lock for alock lever which in its normal position looks a railway track switch inits normal position, the combination comprisin manually controllablemeans controlled over a given pair of conductors for energizing saidelectric lock for releasing said lock lever, and indication meanscontrolled over the same pair of concluctors for displaying a givenindication while said lock lever remains in its normal position aftersaid electric lock becomes energized and for then displaying a secondindication when said lock lever is moved away from its normal positionand also for displaying a third indication by an aspect which isdifferent from the aspect of said indication means for displaying eithersaid first or said second indication when said lock lever is returned toits normal position.

10. In a control and indication arrangement for an electric lock for alock lever which looks a railway track switch in its normal position andwith which a take-siding indicator is associated which directs trafilcmovements over said switch in the reverse position, the combinationcomprising, manually controllable means for energizing said electriclock for releasing said lock lever and for closing a contact in acircuit for energizing said take-siding indicator, and indication meanscontrolled for displaying a given indication while said lock leverremains in its normal postion after said electric lock becomes energizedand for then displaying a second indication when said lock lever ismoved away from its normal position and also for displaying a thirdindication by an aspect which is diiierent from the aspect of saidindication means for displaying either said first or said secondindication when said lock lever is returned to its normal position.

WILLIAM H. CLAUS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name Date 1,822,913 Van Horn Sept. 15,1931 2,215,897; Young Sept. 24, 1940

